Authorities assessing whether Brazilian rotten meat reached Denmark

Meat Traders' Association mentor Chung Suan Lim, who was also its president for eight years, said his checks with the network of importers here have turned up no complaints about imports from Brazil so far.

Brazilian President Michel Temer is scheduled to meet Sunday with agricultural authorities to address the contaminated meat scandal affecting the world's largest exporter of beef and poultry.

Earlier in the day, Bloomberg News had reported that Brazilian beef products now on the way to China would not get clearance at customs, citing a source who was notified of the decision. The investigation is focused on the actions of Brazilian Federal Meat Inspectors. A significant percentage of the meat processed by these companies is exported to many countries including European nations.

Brazil is still reeling from massive graft scandals involving state-controlled oil company Petrobras (PETR4.SA) and construction and engineering firm Odebrecht.

One of the country's largest meat processors, BRF, said it was cooperating with the police investigation and stressed that it followed high sanitary and food safety controls.

Investigator Mauricio Moscardi Grillo said the meatpackers used chemicals to improve the appearance and smell of expired meats.

Supermarket chain NTUC FairPrice said on Monday (March 20) that it is aware of ongoing investigations against two companies in Brazil which supply poultry products to its stores and other retailers here, and is seeking clarification with its suppliers about the matter.

BRF could prove more vulnerable to the scandal since a larger share of its operations are physically based in Brazil, while JBS derives most of its sales from overseas, according to a report by Goldman Sachs analysts led by Luca Cipiccia.

A few hours later, agriculture minister Blairo Maggi said that China had suspended the unloading of Brazilian meats in Chinese ports.

Mr Temer set up the meeting with ambassadors following inquiries from the European Union and China over the scandal. "If I lived in the countryside, I'd start raising my own cows and chickens!"